Have machines in a casino be a part of a local network. Host a virtual "poker room" on a server in the casino with multiple virtual tables. Players join a table, insert money in the machine, and play. It's similar to video poker except it's played like a traditional poker game against other players. Kind of like a cross between live poker and online poker. The casino takes a rake out of each pot to make money, but the rake is less than with live poker. There's no dealer to pay. There can be lower limits offered, even as low as .10/.20. There are many more hands per hour, and one person can play up to 4 virtual tables at once. 9 slot/poker machines take up less space than a poker table.
In order to prevent collusion, the machines will be located randomly throughout the casino and the names are anonymized. Or in the case of national chains like Harrah's, the network includes players from all Harrah's casinos nationwide.
The benefit of this is that people who prefer the advantages of playing online poker can do so completely legally in a casino, and the machines will be more profitable to the casino than a table. A rake of $3 per pot at 100 hands/hour is more than a rake of $5 per pot at 40 hands/hour, and there can be more machines in the same area as a poker table, plus they'll get players who are hesitant to play online.
In order to prevent collusion, the machines will be located randomly throughout the casino and the names are anonymized. Or in the case of national chains like Harrah's, the network includes players from all Harrah's casinos nationwide.
The benefit of this is that people who prefer the advantages of playing online poker can do so completely legally in a casino, and the machines will be more profitable to the casino than a table. A rake of $3 per pot at 100 hands/hour is more than a rake of $5 per pot at 40 hands/hour, and there can be more machines in the same area as a poker table, plus they'll get players who are hesitant to play online.
